Americans United - Johnson Amendmenthttps://www.au.org/tags/johnson-amendment
enWe’ve Got (Hate) Mail!: Right-Wing Pastors React To AU’s Pulpit Politicking Letterhttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/we-ve-got-hate-mail-right-wing-pastors-react-to-au-s-pulpit-politicking
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">We merely want houses of worship to follow the rules, stay out of partisan politics and keep their tax exemption. And when we explain to clergy what the law requires, we do so in a respectful way. We also noted that it is the Internal Revenue Service– not Americans United –that decides whether or not a church should lose its tax exemption.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Every other year during election season, Americans United reminds clergy nationwide to stay out of partisan politics.</p><p>Most religious leaders have no problem respecting the federal tax code’s prohibition against campaign intervention by houses of worship and other non-profits that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.</p><p>But we feel the need to issue a regular reminder in part to counter a torrent of misinformation from the Religious Right, which, in some cases, actively encourages clergy to defy the law. Unfortunately plenty of pastors take this bad advice and openly endorse candidates for office.</p><p>So earlier this month, <a href="https://au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-reminds-houses-of-worship-to-stay-out-of-partisan-politics">AU sent more than 84,000 letters</a> to a wide range of denominations from across the theological spectrum and the political spectrum. (Yes, this includes non-Christians.)</p><p>We merely want houses of worship to follow the rules, stay out of partisan politics and keep their tax exemption. And when we explain to clergy what the law requires, we do so in a respectful way. We also noted that it is the Internal Revenue Service– not Americans United –that decides whether or not a church should lose its tax exemption.</p><p>You wouldn’t know that, however, from some of the nasty responses we got in return. Over the past few weeks, Americans United received dozens of letters from pastors who seem to think a friendly reminder to obey the law is really a threatening attempt to muzzle conservative congregations. It is truly remarkable how much anger seems to have been generated just by asking churches to follow the rules.</p><p>A religious leader in Charleston, S.C., suggested we “<a href="/files/Drop%20Dead%20Gorgeous.jpg">drop dead</a>.” A Catholic priest in Virginia told us to “… shove [the letter] up your fat, white a**.” (Dude, do you preach with that mouth?)</p><p>Two clergy members <a href="/files/Pastor-David.jpg">scrawled notes in red pens</a>; one dared us to “<a href="/files/I%20dare%20you.jpg">come and get me</a>.” A Baptist preacher in North Carolina told us off rather creatively: He <a href="/files/Ripped%20Up.jpg">tore our letter into little pieces</a> and mailed it back.</p><p>Then there were those ministers who clearly ignored the point of the letter, stating that they planned to risk the tax exemption of their churches by telling their congregations how to vote.</p><p>“We absolutely plan to warn who to vote for and who not to vote for per Biblical principles,” said a pastor in New York. </p><p>A church leader in South Carolina defiantly declared: “Just so you will know I will be standing in my pulpit and telling my people that the Democratic Party has been taken over by Satanists and telling them that there is no way they can be true to God and the Bible and vote for a Democrat. I will name candidates and tell the truth about each as I see it. I will do so without the least bit if (sic) intimidation by you or the IRS. The only one I fear is God.”</p><p>Still another in Memphis said: “We publish voter guides that encourage members to vote for candidates who support issues consistent with our faith.” Sometimes church voter guides are genuinely unbiased, but more often than not they are thinly veiled partisan packets. We suspect it’s the latter given this pastor also claimed erroneously, “The Founders stated that only Christians should be elected to leadership in government.” (He also spent $6.15 in postage to include a bunch of materials regurgitating long-discredited “Christian nation” folderol.)</p><p>Others assumed, incorrectly, that we mailed only to conservative congregations. For one email writer, who identified himself only as “John Jones,” the devil is truly in the details of our letter.</p><p>“I am not aware that you are sending out these letters to other religions,” “Jones” said. “The devil has you in his grasp. We will pray for you!”</p><p>A letter-writer in Carol Stream, Ill., accused us of being “cowardly,” which is ironic since he or she failed to identify him or herself. The writer also assumed we get paid by President Barack Obama.</p><p>“How much does Obama pay you to send out cowardly letters such as this one!?” the writer asked.</p><p>An anonymous letter writer from Wichita said we should target minority congregations for potential violations of IRS rules.</p><p>“When I see you begin to prosecute the black churches who give Democratic candidates the pulpit to advance their campaigns I will believe your letter,” our correspondent wrote. “Until then stop the rhetoric of intimidation.”</p><p>The irony is, AU’s anti-church politicking project actually grew out of a plot by churches to raise money for a Democratic candidate. Back in 1988, a group of churches planned to collect money for then-Democratic presidential hopeful Jesse Jackson. We got wind of the ploy and warned those churches not to act like one of Jackson’s political action committees.</p><p>But that’s not all. In 2008, we reported to the IRS when the General Baptist State Convention hosted an event in Raleigh, N.C., that appeared to be a rally for then-presidential candidate Obama, featuring his wife, Michelle. In 2009, we reported the Fifth Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., because it invited a Democratic gubernatorial candidate to speak during services. The pastor told his congregation, “Brian is right on guns. He’s right on affirmative action. He’s right on taxes. He’s right on jobs. I’m not telling you who to vote for. I’m just telling you who I’m voting for. I’m voting for Brian Moran.” </p><p>Even though we are clearly out to make sure everyone plays by the rules, regardless of their political affiliation, a lot of pastors and their followers just don’t get what AU’s letters are about. One especially litigious woman, who identified herself only as “Mary Brown,” seemed bent on suing us.</p><p>“I am reporting your letter to my church as a violation of campaign ethics to the FEC (Federal Election Commission)… I am also investigating the possibility of a lawsuit on behalf of ALL churches who received your letter because you are violating their First Amendment rghts (sic)!"</p><p>Unfortunately for Ms. Brown, no one’s First Amendment rights are violated simply by receiving an informational letter. Most of us get unsolicited mail on a daily basis.</p><p>While it’s difficult to say how many of the 84,000 plus houses of worship that received our letter plan to obey the law, one pastor informed us that he understands what the tax code does and does not allow – albeit in a letter dripping with sarcasm.</p><p>“I am certain that being separated from everyday life up in Washington, as you are, you had nothing better to do but to worry about our small congregation in Georgia,” a Baptist minister in Georgia wrote. “Allow me to put your mind at ease. I can promise you that neither I nor any of my church leaders will be persuading, cajoling, influencing, swaying, threatening, interfering, enticing, wheedling, coaxing, incentivizing, guiding, controlling, shaping, affecting, effecting, altering, bribing, compelling, impacting, manipulating, inclining, seducing, selling, or deciding for anyone their vote.” </p><p>At least he gets it. We’ll call that a win.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-groups%E2%80%99-involvement-in-candidate-elections">Religious Groups’ Involvement in Candidate Elections</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/michelle-obama">Michelle Obama</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/jesse-jackson">Jesse Jackson</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/irs">IRS</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/501c3">501(c)(3)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/johnson-amendment">Johnson Amendment</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/pulpit-politicking">Pulpit Politicking</a></span></div></div>Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:09:16 +0000Simon Brown10634 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/we-ve-got-hate-mail-right-wing-pastors-react-to-au-s-pulpit-politicking#commentsBachmann In Overdrive: Minnesota House Member Favors Church Electioneeringhttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bachmann-in-overdrive-minnesota-house-member-favors-church-electioneering
<a href="/about/people/bathija">Sandhya Bathija</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Entangling politics with religion – as Bachmann thinks we should do – only ends up exploiting our houses of worship.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann <a href="http://minnesotaindependent.com/56118/bachmann-tea-partiers-should-bang-garbage-can-lids">said</a> on “Hot Tea” radio yesterday that she is sick of “radical leftist organizations” that “intimidate Christians” from speaking about politics from the pulpit.</p>
<p>Bachmann called for Congress to repeal the federal law that prevents all 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing candidates.</p>
<p>“We need to repeal that,” she said, “and give Christians back their First Amendment rights to free speech in the church.”</p>
<p>We couldn’t disagree more. Federal law prevents the use of tax-exempt resource to electioneer; it isn’t about silencing or “intimidating” churches or church members. Clergy retain their free speech rights to talk about social and moral issues of the day. And if they want to take that a step further and use their church to campaign for a candidate, they can – they just have to forgo the benefit of a tax exemption. But they can’t have it both ways.</p>
<p>Americans United has been very vocal over the years explaining why our churches should not be used as political machines. It’s a necessary outgrowth, we believe, of the Constitution’s promise to keep church and state separate.</p>
<p>“Most Americans who go to church expect to hear about salvation, morality and scripture. They don't anticipate hardball political endorsements,” <a href="//www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2008/11/10/a-church-should-not-be-a-political-machine.html">said</a> the Rev. Barry W. Lynn in an article he wrote for U.S. News and World Report in November 2008. (The essay was in response to the Alliance Defense Fund’s “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” which urged pastors to break the law and endorse candidates from the pulpit.)</p>
<p>Entangling politics with religion – as Bachmann thinks we should do – only ends up exploiting our houses of worship.</p>
<p>We have a perfect example of this in New Mexico this week, where Drew Degner, campaign manager of Farmington city council candidate Bob Moon, designed a scorecard that surveyed all the candidates on their religious and social values, including church attendance.</p>
<p>Degner said he wanted to distribute the scorecard in his church, so congregants could assess the candidates’ “values.”</p>
<p>“People want to vote for a person that mimics their values,” <a href="http://www.daily-times.com/ci_14510201">said</a> Degner. “I did it as part of church as a Christian.”</p>
<p>Though Degner claimed his scorecard tactic wasn’t an attempt to “advertise” for Moon, it certainly seems that way. One could even argue that he wanted to convince his fellow congregants whom to vote for so he could turn the church into a campaign headquarters of sorts.</p>
<p>If Bachmann has her way, I’m sure she would like to see that happen in all churches in the country – at least those churches that think the way she does.</p>
<p>“Right-wing activists are determined to forge a church-based political machine,” AU’s Lynn <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barry-w-lynn/pulpit-freedom-sunday-a-c_b_129394.html">wrote</a> for The Huffington Post. “Under their vision, it will register voters, transport them to the polls on election day and instruct them on how to vote.”</p>
<p>Fortunately, what Bachmann wants isn’t what most Americans want. Eighty-seven percent of Americans <a href="//www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=28983&amp;ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0924">agreed</a> that pastors shouldn't endorse candidates during worship services, according to a survey by LifeWay Research.</p>
<p>That’s because most Americans recognize that to preserve church-state separation, no law should be based solely on any particular religious belief, and no candidate should be chosen for his or her beliefs, either.</p>
<p>It’s time Bachmann and her allies get on board with majority of Americans and stop claiming federal tax law is hurting our houses of worship. In fact, it’s doing just the opposite.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/churches-and-politics">Churches and Politics</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/bob-moon">Bob Moon</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/churches-and-politics">Churches and Politics</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/drew-degner">Drew Degner</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/internal-revenue-service-irs">Internal Revenue Service (IRS)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/johnson-amendment">Johnson Amendment</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/michelle-bachmann">Michelle Bachmann</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/new-mexico">New Mexico</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/religion-and-politics">Religion and politics</a></span></div></div>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:42:16 +0000Sandhya Bathija2419 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bachmann-in-overdrive-minnesota-house-member-favors-church-electioneering#commentsPartisan Politicking Pugilists: Debate Brings Together Opponents And Proponents Of Church Electioneeringhttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/partisan-politicking-pugilists-debate-brings-together-opponents-and
<a href="/about/people/bathija">Sandhya Bathija</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="247" caption="The Rev. Barry W. Lynn"][/caption]</p>
<p>Sometimes, a good, old-fashioned debate is the best way to hash out a contentious public issue.</p>
<p>I attended an event like this yesterday at the National Press Club here in Washington, where Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn participated in spirited (but polite) verbal bout over pulpit politicking.</p>
<p>The event was put on by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Religious Right legal group, and the Federalist Society. It brought together, for at least one afternoon, nearly 100 people from both sides of the political spectrum.</p>
<p>Participants focused on a provision in federal tax law that prohibits tax-exempt, non-profit organizations – including religious institutions – from endorsing or opposing candidates. As you may recall, back in September, the ADF urged clergy around the country to openly violate this law as part of a scheme they called "Pulpit Freedom Sunday."</p>
<p>As we sat down to lunch, I found myself next to Pastor Steve Hickey of <a href="http://www.churchatthegate.com/">Church at the Gate</a> in Sioux Falls, S.D. We made pleasant small talk, and I learned that Hickey is active with the ADF.</p>
<p>I'm not sure whether Pastor Hickey participated in ADF's stunt, but I have to say I was glad he was in attendance. I was hopeful that once he listened to Barry's convincing arguments, he'd understand why the ADF was off base.</p>
<p>[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ADF Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull"][/caption]</p>
<p>Sitting on the panel along with Lynn was Donald Tobin, my former tax law and legal writing professor from The Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law. Tobin provided the tax-scholar angle to the issue, while Barry, who is an ordained Christian minister, gave a religious leader's perspective.</p>
<p>On the other side were ADF Chief Counsel Benjamin W. Bull and University of Michigan Law School professor Douglas Laycock. They argued that the Internal Revenue Service regulation violates free speech rights by prohibiting pastors' free-speech rights in the pulpit.</p>
<p>Lynn and Tobin took issue with this, asserting that the IRS law is the only way to ensure that churches do not become enmeshed in political machines. And, as Lynn pointed out, clergy still have an astounding amount of freedom to preach. Under the tax law, they may discuss moral issues of the day, such as abortion or gay rights; they just cannot specifically support or oppose one candidate, nor can they raise money in any way for political campaigns.</p>
<p>Tax exemption is a privilege, not a right, Lynn said. In taking this benefit from the government, churches, temples and synagogues must play by the same rules as all other non-profit organizations, otherwise they would be given special rights other non-profit groups do not receive.</p>
<p>[caption id="" align="alignright" width="297" caption="The Panel"][/caption]</p>
<p>Tobin added that if churches want to jump into partisan political races, they don't have to accept the privilege of a tax exemption. But if a church wants the benefit of this tax exemption, he continued, the government has the right to add certain conditions to ensure the privilege is not being abused.</p>
<p>Lynn reminded the audience that most Americans go to church to receive spiritual guidance. They don't want to hear hardball political endorsements. In fact, 87 percent of Americans agreed that pastors should not endorse candidates during worship services, according to a survey conducted by <a href="http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=28983&amp;ref=BPNews-RSSFeed0924">LifeWay Research</a>.</p>
<p>In responding to Lynn's arguments, Bull claimed the language of the IRS provision was too vague. He said it is unfair to ask pastors to understand what constitutes a violation and what doesn't.</p>
<p>[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Rev. Gus Booth"][/caption]</p>
<p>But Lynn had some advice for the many pastors sitting in the audience, including the Rev. Gus Booth of Warroad, Minn., who <a href="http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2008/07/irs-to-investiga.html">Americans United reported to the IRS</a> after the pastor told his congregation not to vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Lynn suggested pastors ask themselves before giving a sermon whether their intent is to endorse or oppose a candidate, and if they find the answer is "yes," they should not continue. It's as simple as that.</p>
<p>Normally I'd be reluctant to spend an afternoon hanging out with members of the Alliance Defense Fund and the Federalist Society, but in this case I thought it was worth it. The debate was educational and informative, and it was great to see Lynn and Tobin make some winning arguments.</p>
<p>As Pastor Hickey wished me goodbye and good luck at the end of lunch, he said he enjoyed the event because it allowed him to "humanize" the issue. I'd like to believe that means he doesn't think we're so bad after all.</p>
<p>I hope he even learned a thing or two about why pulpit politicking is a bad idea.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/churches-and-politics">Churches and Politics</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/alliance-defense-fund-adf">Alliance Defense Fund (ADF)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/barry-w-lynn">Barry W. Lynn</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/churches-and-politics">Churches and Politics</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/federalist-society">Federalist Society</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/freedom-speech">Freedom of Speech</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/johnson-amendment">Johnson Amendment</a></span></div></div>Thu, 21 May 2009 17:45:51 +0000Sandhya Bathija2354 at https://www.au.orghttps://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/partisan-politicking-pugilists-debate-brings-together-opponents-and#comments